Viva La Madonna 1817

Thomas Joseph Clérian created this sheet drawing, Viva La Madonna, with graphite on paper, sometime before 1842. The artist's choice of graphite as a medium suggests a deliberate move away from the conventions of the fine arts. Graphite, commonly found in pencils, is a humble material associated with sketching, studies, and preparatory drawings. Clérian's technique involves a careful control of the pencil to create a range of tonal values and textures. Look at the delicate shading, for example, that gives volume to the figures’ clothing. The conscious decision to create a finished artwork with a so-called 'non-art' material and a medium associated with the working process is a statement in itself. By emphasizing the artistic potential of humble materials, Clérian challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, inviting us to reconsider the value and meaning of materials in art.